Page 31 of Jude

Chapter 7

Jude rested his headagainst the wall. What the fuck had gone wrong? Maybe he’d come on too strong. But standing so close to Octavia and seeing the vulnerability in her eyes, and how her lips had opened as he’d neared, he couldn’t help himself. He’d had to kiss her. Scars be dammed. He didn’t give a shit about them. They did nothing to detract from her beauty or who she was on the inside.

He would not let her put up this barrier between them.

Jude hurried out of the comms room and saw Octavia round the corner ahead of him. He raced after her. She was running, heading into the bio zone. The door had already slid shut by the time he reached it.

Patrick McCloud kept the bio zone climate controlled, giving him the ability to grow crops throughout the year. He hated people going in uninvited and messing with his environment.

Warm air drifted around Jude as he walked through the door and into the bio zone. Swathes of green filled every available space. There were raised growing racks rising in five tiers. Patrick was an inventive son of a gun when it came to maximizing growing space.

Jude slowed and looked around. There was no sign of Octavia.

“Hold it right there, buddy.”

Jude turned and came face-to-face with Patrick. He was a grizzled-looking guy in his mid-forties, with no love for the scissors when it came to dealing with his tangle of dark hair. He also sported several weeks’ worth of beard.

“Patrick. I’m looking for someone.”

“There’s only one group of scheduled visitors in here today.” Patrick wiped his mud-stained hands down his khaki pants. “No one else should be in here.”

“Octavia came in,” said Jude. “Did you see her? She’s wearing a black cap and has long blonde hair.”

“There are no blondes in here,” said Patrick. “Believe me, I’d notice if there were. We’ve got a redhead, though.”

“You’ve taken on an assistant?” Patrick was renowned for guarding the bio zone as if it was his only child.

“Assistant be buggered.” Patrick grabbed a pair of shears from a bulging pocket of his pants. “People volunteer their time here. Everyone loves the bio zone.”

“So who’s here?”

“Anastasia and Skyler.” Patrick’s mouth curled into a smile. “I never thought I liked kids, but Skyler has a way of making you like her. She’s got the cutest smile.”

“Maybe they saw where Octavia went. Where are they?”

“I should throw you out,” grumbled Patrick.

“I won’t cause any trouble. I’ll get Octavia and we’ll be out of your way.”

Patrick’s flint-gray eyes narrowed. “Touch none of the plants while you’re here.”

“I’ll keep my hands off,” said Jude. “I just want to make sure my friend is okay.” Hell, he wanted to make sure he hadn’t messed everything up between them.

The door into the bio zone opened. Lincoln strode through, grinning when he spotted his brother and Patrick.

Patrick threw his hands up in exasperation. “I don’t know why I bother to keep this place climate controlled.”

Lincoln walked over. “You love us being here.”

Patrick eyed the bag in Lincoln’s hand. “I don’t suppose you’ve brought me any cake from the canteen?”

“There might be cake if you stop being so mean.” Lincoln looked at Jude. “I rarely see you in here.”

“Octavia came in.” Jude looked around. “We’ve had...” He didn’t know what to call what had just happened between them. It wasn’t exactly an argument.

“Are you breaking her heart already?” Lincoln pulled a wrapped package out of the bag and handed it to Patrick. “This should see us right for the rest of the week.”

Patrick grabbed the package and opened it. The smell of warm, sweet fruitcake drifted out. “I reckon this will do.”